Wednesday, November 12, 2014

I brought this blog back to life back in May of 2013. It was an effort to get away from bloviating on the politics of the day. I wanted to concentrate on larger structural, cultural aspects of our society, chronicling the devolution of America. However, I've found that the politics of the day is the largest contributor of this devolution. The forces that are tearing apart our society and culture (in my view) cannot be separated from the personalities and their shenanigans. So I've found that I'm kinda back where I started.

Judging by the massive readership of this blog and the jam packed and electrifying comment section I have come to realize it's just me shouting into the gale forces of the blogosphere yet barely even contributing to the din. Listen, sometimes I was making a great point and even presenting an angle I felt wasn't getting proper attention. But was it worth the electrons used and the synapses expended putting fingers to keyboard? Probably not. Did I feel better afterward? Not really.

I read an interesting piece the other day about a former leftist activist who upon opening her eyes realized that everything she had done up to that point had been motivated by anger and hate. Even after the object of whatever particular hatred she had was dispatched (or retired) she just moved on to the next without skipping a beat. It was when she realized she had no friends or even acquaintances on the "right" that she reached out for the first time in her life. Though she vehemently opposed their views she found many right-wingers were motivated by love and family and church and community and not necessarily hatred and anger like she was. The last straw was when she realized that she while said she hated the war when George Bush was President and protested at the drop of a hat she never took part in any protest when Barack Obama took war action. Why? She didn't hate Obama. War didn't matter - hatred did.

Why do I bring this up? I guess I question my own motivation for spouting off like this. Since hardly anyone reads this am I doing it for my own good? What good is it? Is it just my anger at the fools, charlatans and con men as I perceive them? Yeah, probably.

On the other hand, not all leftists are like this woman. Many, probably most, are motivated by by love and family and church and community too. I think they are completely wrong on many subjects but I don't think it's pure hatred that motivates most of them. Yes, there are right-wingers that are motivated by hate - though I think the numbers pale in comparison to the left.

The USA has a lot of problems - fear, envy, anger and hatred are at the top of the list. I don't want any part of these things in my life. Blogging like this can only contribute to these undesirable attributes. In light of this I will be re-re-evaluating the use of this space...

I already miss what I've been able to read in this space. Even when I don't fully understand it. For example I'm still trying to wrap my mind around electricity rather than gravity as the unifying force of the universe. I think the sheer variety of topics you choose to discuss makes for interesting and thought provoking reading. I like to think I've found an under-utilized gem in a vast wasteland of pop-cultural detritus. My two cents worth.

TJWThat's high praise coming from some one so well read. What I need to do, I think, is stop watching and reading the news - instead focus on stuff that sparks something in me rather than what irritates me... Thanks

10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

Zechariah 4:10

I know it seems like you are shouting into a vacuum, but you never know who you will influence. There may be more readers, and more important readers, than you can imagine. It is tough without much feedback, though.

I read an interesting piece the other day about a former leftist activist

Do you remember what piece that was? I have been trying to reevaluate on similar terms. Living in a blue state, I've gotten to know many cool people who lean left (though some are much easier to get along with as long as one doesn't have a contrary opinion). I don't think of them as bad people, but there are many things that I've had trouble understanding. They had no idea why I would be offended at the cheering over the President's reelection. They live in a different world where the news reports different facts (and any news that is different is all propaganda). Over time, I lost interest in reading leftist opinions. The interest was one-sided, the logic seemed consistently bad, and the characterization of their opposition was so egregiously absurd that all it accomplished was making me mad. I've been trying to have a better perspective on it. I think we are in need of some forum where some clarity is achieved on bringing out the fundamental differences between conservatism and progressivism, as most conservatives and progressives don't really understand the underpinnings or consequences of their worldviews. Personally, I think leftism/progressivism is more immediately appealing to the very best and very worst people, while conservatism is more of an appeal to the people somewhere in between; and that this complicates matters.

Higher Math

OK, I'll bite. What is this?

Well, that's a good question... I can't wait to find out either!

Disclaimer:All opinions expressed on this website are mine and only mine unless expressly attributed (in italics) to others. These thoughts and words should not be assumed to be those of any organization, group, team or company that I'm associated with.